No Pants Subway Ride 2014: How To Join And Where To Meet In New York, Los Angeles And Other Cities

People across the globe participate in the day, including the transit riders from Mexico City pictured above during last year's No Pants Subway Ride.
Reuters

Though they lack pants, participants are asked to act as they normally would when riding the subway and waiting for the train.
Reuters

The event's creators say it is really just about being silly and making other people laugh.
Reuters

Previous

1
of
4

Next

If you take the subway on Sunday, Jan. 12, be prepared to see more bare legs than you’re probably used to.

Thousands of public transit riders across the nation will participate in No Pants Subway Ride day on Jan 12. Created in 2002 by the New York-based group Improv Everywhere, the annual celebration is a chance for riders in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities to put their inhibitions aside and join their fellow travelers in the pants-free madness.

Improv Everywhere's founder Charlie Todd told USA Today that the day was created "to be a positive thing to make people laugh and smile." Since its first year, the event has found enthusiasts in close to 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.

Are you ready to ditch your slacks and brave the elements for a skivvies-only subway ride? Read below for details on how to participate in No Pants Subway Ride day in New York, L.A., Washington and Chicago.

New York City

The pants-free ride will kick off at 3 p.m. on Jan. 12 in New York City. But remember to arrive with your pants ON. You won’t be removing your pants until you get on the subway.

There are a total of seven locations across the city where participants will meet before boarding trains for the event, says Improve Everywhere. The Manhattan meeting points are the most crowded, so the organization recommends that riders who live in Brooklyn or Queens choose one of those locations.

New Yorkers should meet at one of the following locations promptly at 3 p.m.:

1. Uptown Manhattan: Meet at the Great Hill in Central Park

2. Queens: Meet at the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Park

3. Lower East Side: Meet at Sarah Roosevelt Park on Houston

4. Downtown Manhattan: Meet at Foley Square

5. Brooklyn: Meet by the Old Stone House

6. Astoria: Meet at Hoyt Playground

7. Williamsburg/Bushwick: Meet at Maria Hernandez Park

At the meeting locations, participants will be organized in groups and assigned a train car in which they will remove their pants at a designated stop. They will then head to the subway station. Participants are reminded to act like they normally would on the subway.

For more information on the NYC No Pants Subway Ride, read the Improv Everywhere post here.

Los Angeles

The event will begin in L.A. promptly at 2:30 p.m. on Jan 12.

Participants have a total of five stations to meet at to be divided into groups. Organizers are encouraging people to arrive at the station of their choice by 1 p.m. so that the ride captains -- known as "agents" -- will be able to divide people into groups before the trains' departure times.

D.C. residents can join in the fun by meeting at Hancock Park by L'Enfant Plaza Metro for a short pre-ride meeting starting at 2 p.m., says the Facebook event. After the meeting, riders will then be released to get onto the metro.

Chicago

Participant in the Chicago No Pants Ride are asked to arrive at 12 p.m. at 1210 W Arthur -- the roof deck of the metro station parking garage. The Facebook event says groups will be created at that time and participants should purchase train fares BEFORE they arrive at the station at noon.

For a Google street view of the location and more details, visit the Facebook event page here.